Portland Japanese Garden will offer free, public demonstrations of a special ryu-rei style of tea ceremony, using the misono-dana, at the Cathy Rudd Cultural Corner in the Jordan Schnitzer Japanese Arts Learning Center from 1:15 – 2:15pm.
The Way of Tea is intrinsically linked to Japanese gardens and understanding the kokoro (heart) of Japanese gardening.
Misono-dana
In the early Meiji era, the Kyoto Prefecture held the first tea exposition in Japan. The governor of Kyoto asked the 11th Urasenke Grand Tea Master, Gengensai, to create a new tea ceremony style, so that foreign guests could experience the most sophisticated Japanese culture comfortably and to show the heart of hospitality of the way of tea. The ryu-rei style of tea ceremony was conceived, in which the host and guests are seated in chairs instead of the traditional tatami mat; this ceremony could be conducted almost anywhere, even outdoors. The use of the misono-dana allowed the host to comfortably prepare the tea. It was considered a great success and since then, this type of tea ceremony has been enjoyed all over the world.
About Tea Ceremony
The traditional Japanese tea ceremony is a particular manner of preparing and drinking a bowl of tea. More than just making and serving tea, this tradition is based in formality and in many ways is a microcosm of the Japanese sense of omotenashi, which translates as wholehearted hospitality. It is a type of practice comprising of choreographed movements which serve as a foundation where both the host and the guest can escape from the fast pace of everyday life and involve all their senses and experience a serene feeling of calm.
